My Top 250 Albums (41-50)

41. EMERY – THE QUESTION
(2005 – T11 G11 B9 UB2)

The 5th of 6 Emery albums is next up an was their sophomore effort, their debut being still to land in the chart. Compared to their other albums this is definitely their most conventional in terms of song structure and dare I say, their most poppy one. The vocals are still the standout feature with the 2 lead singers swapping lines and such and alternating between clean and gut wrenching screaming. The riffs are all there, cleaner but sometimes work better. The biggest difference between this and their debut is the addition of more keyboards in songs. At the time of its release Emery were probably my favourite band, being full into screamo as I was at the time. The first 5 songs are all bangers on my list and the last 2 of them are ultimate bangers in “Studying Politics” which was the lead single and “Left With Alibis and Lying Eyes” which appears to be another track 5 about getting away with a murder, similar to 3rd album “I’m Only A Man”. Are they trying to confess something? anyway, no evidence so they won’t be scratched from he list. “Returning The Smile You Have Had From The Start” wins best riff on the album with the stabby noodly little affair it has at the start, before the typical Emery softer melody moments. The last 2 songs on the album are 2 slower builders and a great epic sounding way to finish it off. 

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42. HOT ROD CIRCUIT – IF IT’S COOL WITH YOU, IT’S COOL WITH ME
(2000 – T11 G9 B7 UB4)

They’ve been mentioned a few times in the list so far but not had an album in it yet. Well at 42 its Alabama’s Hot Rod Circuit and the first of 2 albums to appear…. and those 2 are a lot better than the rest of their work which reached 5 before doing one of those extended hiatus things, bands like to do. The 2 that make the list are quite different in sound. This one is much more up beat along the lines of early Get Up Kids but with a bit more bite to it. The thing that stands out and drives the album for me is the lead guitar which for a lot of it sounds ever so slightly out of tune, but is continuously doing odd guitar melodies which are almost too high in the mix… but it works. A prime example of this is on 2nd track “Supersad” with its string bending little guitar melody. “Radio Song” kicks off the album before this with its 2 minutes punk pop niceness. The more you get those guitar hooks into your head the more the songs grow on you. “Cool With Me” is a 2 minute blast as well which sets off at a pace before gradually slowing as the songs goes along. “Versatility” is my favourite on the album and the urgency of it all is the dogs bollocks and I love the “straight through the heart” bit towards the end is crackin. “Smithsonian Liver” runs this song close with the melodic mid section poss being the best moment on the album. “Why can’t we just laugh, forget, and move on”. There are a couple of more acoustic tracks which are ok but don’t really work, not helped by the slightly raw production on it all, but still overall I love this albums 28 mins. Please ignore its proper dodgy album cover. Whose idea was that?!

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43. SHED SEVEN – A MAXIMUM HIGH
(1996 – T12 G9 B8 UB3)

Back in the world of the mid-90s and its Brit-pop indie heroes Shed Seven with their 2nd album in the chart. This was also their 2nd album overall and has many a classic of the times on it. The Shine compilation CDs appeared to be nearly 40% Shed Seven tracks. The York based group were always just under the heights of Oasis, Blur and Pulp but for me this is one of the best of that era. Kicking off with a track that sounds like the sort of thing New Labour would have used to celebrate an election campaign “Getting Better”. This is quickly followed by massive tracks such as “Magic Streets”, “Going For Gold” and “On Standby”. All have their massive sing a long choruses, with that slightly laddy style, so you can belt them out no matter how shit your singing is. The album is chock full of potential singles and it’s hard to remember which ones were and weren’t (apparently 5 were and all charted in and around the top 20). “Lies” and “Bully Boy” are 2 faves later in the album. All round it still holds up and possibly I love it more now than ever. Esp after their glorious return with their album released the other year which was their other entry on the list. PS. it seems nearly all of the original official shed seven vids have disappeared, so the comments are full of what I could find.

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44. TAKING BACK SUNDAY – TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS
(2002 – T10 G10 B8 UB2)

“Tell All Your Friends”, well someone did as thats how I heard about this album. Right when this type of stuff was taking off from under the feet of Nu-metal at the time. This was Taking Back Sunday’s debut and is considered one of the classics of the emo-punk-pop genre and ranks at #35 on Rock Sounds list of best albums of the last 20 years, describing it as a “genre-shaping release”. This is the 4th TBS album on my list and is clearly the best. The emotional half breaking vocal style seemed so different at the time, but has probably become a bit of cliche by now, but the album still holds up for me. At one stage I probably had 80% of this album as UB’s, now they are just B’s but its still class, and def worthy of its #44 position. The 2 main singles off the album are still the 2 ultimate bangers off the album in “Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut From The Team) and “Great Romances of the 20th Century”. The first of which was butchered by my uni band The Standoff in many a practice session. Another iconic song off the album is “There’s No ‘I’ In Team” which as mentioned in the review of Brand New’s debut (#67) was part of a battle between members of the 2 bands. and has slightly modified lyrics in the “Is this what you call tact? I swear you’re as subtle as a brick in the small of my back” section as a reply to Brand New. wath out for a random appearance by Flava Flav from Public Enemy in the “You’re So Last Summer” vid.

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45. ACCEPTANCE – PHANTOMS
(2005 – T11 G11 B8 UB2)

Up next is Acceptance, a band who should be a lot bigger than they are. A cross between Jimmy Eat World and Anberlin, their melodic emo pop punk is done to perfection. Possibly too perfect as its a little too clean in sound in some parts, and less natural but as its at 45, its still an absolute banger of an album, as shown but 8 of the 11 tracks reaching banger status. Hailing from Seattle they released an awesome EP “Black Lines To Battlefields” in 2003, which was headlined by the single “Permanent” which also made it onto this their debut album and is a near perfect song of its genre, with its nice little riff effortlessly flowing into its verses and choruses. The album itself kicks off with the other UBer in “Take Cover” which starts with the painfully emo line “She’s a liar….” which is even more amped up in the emo stakes on the acoustic version that there is. Most songs don’t wander far from the verse chorus verse chorus bridge chorus end pattern but thats fine as they hit the pattern perfectly. The album is broken up by a slower tempo middle section including single “Different” which is a reet soppy ballad along the lines of Hoobastank’s “the Reason”. Its slightly cheesy but I love it. The best songs are reserved for the more up beat ones, which along with those already mentioned include “In Too Far” and “In The Cold”. “Glory/Us” is a nice closer that includes a nice sweeping bit as it goes from the intial chorus to the second verse. melodic heaven. AbsolutePunk describes the album best with “It’s not often that bands can create pop-oriented music that has lasting value, but Acceptance has managed to do it with Phantoms. Outstanding vocals and truly talented songwriting sets this band apart from everybody else.”

After this album….. nothing…. for 12 years. Then came the 2nd album, which is nowhere near as good, still good and with an added 80s tinge but it doesn’t have the songs this has. It hovers around the #300 mark on my list.

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46. MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK – EVEN IF IT KILLS ME
(2007 – T13 G13 B7 UB3)

Another Motion City Soundtrack album you say? yes i emphatically reply!. This is their 4th on the list so far and 3rd in the top 100, and yes there are 2 more still to go. Its fair to say I love me some Motion City. This was their 3rd album and their last one with Epitaph, it was also their most “successful” in the UK charting at 113!! dizzying heights. The choice of singles didn’t help it though as the best songs are not them, though “This Is For Real” nice enough. MCS have never strayed far from their formula and so as with tradition the opener “Fell In Love Without You” is a high paced full of of that tasty nerdy moog sound. The ultimate bangers on this one come in the form of the Cure “Close to Me”-ish sounding “Last Night”. It’s just a nice gentle journey of a song with it plinky plonk piano sounds and gradual build up during it. “Hello Helicopter” is another down sounding song, but with a beautiful flow, MCS really do nail melodies with the different layers of instruments. It’s a definite foot taper.”Point Of Extraction” is a bit more upbeat and probably my favourite on the album with its triumphant chorus and pop riffs. Other highlights include the Ben Folds Five name drop in “Antonia”. “The Conversation” is a piano only song and is definitely Ben Folds esque and an attempt to jerk some tears (not that type you dirty shit). Anyway, sorry for another Motion City Soundtrack album, but it works for me.

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47. SYSTEM OF A DOWN – SYSTEM OF A DOWN
(1998 – T13 G12 B8 UB2)

Quite a contrast from yesterday, at 47 is System Of A Down and their self titled debut album. System arrived on the scene around the same time Nu-Metal was taking off, but this was different, no rapping, no turntables and no caps. This was metal with a nod and a wink and some Armenian politics. This is the only one of their 5 albums to make the list. The rest have some good stuff on but for me this was as good as it gets. The production isn’t too crisp, the riffs are dirtier and its just rawer, and more natural sounding, before they maybe started parodying themselves on some future albums. “Suite-Pee” kicks us off with a classic SOAD sounding guitar, high pitched noodle, before some raucous downtuned power chords. This is followed by 2 ultimate bangers in “Know” with its death screamed “whyyyyyyy” and norty (sic) riffs, and then “Sugar”, a staple of the nights at the Dog & Trumpet and the Campbell, back in the day. “Sugar” just has that awesome drum roll into the chorus and then the ever speeding up riff at the end. Blinding stuff. There are some real oddities on the album too “Suggestions” has what sounds like a mouse singing in it at one point, “Mind” is 6 minutes of mentality, and has one of the dirtiest riffs this side of Armenia about 4:40 in. This album could easily be higher, either way its def a top 50-er for me. “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrr!”

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48. OASIS – DEFINITELY MAYBE
(1994 – T11 G10 B7 UB3)

Ok time for me to get some grief, either for putting this too low, or for putting it in at all. Oasis are a band that if you like them you love them, but if you don’t you hate them. I’m evidently on the love side and I do love this album, but I also love a lot of other albums. No.48 is by no means negative. This album celebrates 25 years since release next month and Oasis were the icon of 90’s Britain, Brit-pop and Cool Britannia. The Gallagher brothers swagger was either intoxicating or revolting depending on your perspective. Liam for example doesn’t “think” he’s amazing, he “knows” it and he wants you to know it too and isn’t that exactly what you want in a lead singer of, in their words, “the biggest band on the planet”. Only 2 of the Oasis catalog make the list and this would probably be common for most as after their first 2 the quality did definitely drop off, maybe they should have saved some of the incredible B-sides for later albums. They announced themselves to the world with “Supersonic” with its iconic, confident drum beat and plectrum slide down the guitar, as if to say… “you can wait for this”. Then the riff and then the slightly off tune, manc snarl of Liam kicks in, full of beans. It was different to the shoegazing mumbling of indie before and the hair-metal wankery or too American grunge that was big before. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” also brazenly announces themselves with the first track on the album. “Live Forever” is a classic and a song for a generation, “Cigarettes & Alcohol” brings yet more lad confidence in line with lad mags like FHM, popular at the time. The greatest song on the album for me is the floating “Slide Away” which includes some of Liams best vocals. It seems odd now that Noel lead a single song on this album, that would be saved for later “…Glory”. The final track, the acoustic “Married With Children” is also a favourite and a great sing-a-long song. Oasis to this day are also the traditional music for a car journey back from a Cov City away day. Legendary.

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49. FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE – FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE
(1996 – T12 G10 B8 UB2)

Ahh, Fountains of Wayne, a band most, if they’ve heard of them, will only associate them with the song about fancying your mates or girlfriend’s “mom” in “Stacy’s Mom”. As catchy and sugary nice that it is, they can do much better. FOW were a band with were part of my musical awakening during 1996/7. Not too daring I know, but off the radar a bit. The first thing I heard by them was “Radiation Vibe”, a chilled cruise of an alternative rock song and i listened to it basically on repeat at the time. So much so that I can still hear the song it faded into on my cassette recording in my head each time the song finishes. That song was their debut single and actually charted over here at No.32. It is also the opening track to their debut album. Their 2nd single “Sink To The Bottom” is the 2nd track on the album, original thinking. They aren’t doing anything clever but its just nice nerdy-cool alt rock with a 60’s  influenced sound to the album, with a touch of Weezer and they say themselves a bit of Oasis (the latter you can hear more on other albums and not all that successfully). They definitely are fans of the 60’s as co-write and bass player Adam Schlesinger, wrote several songs including the title track for the Tom Hanks film “That Thing You Do” and also produced an album for The Monkees. Back to the album and songs like “Joe Ray” and “Survival Car” pick up the pace, while “Sick Day” is an awesome chilled song about a lady fed up with work. “Barbara H” is another fave and more a mid-paced affair, but its just that cool vibe thats throughout this album that I love.

After this album they did a Christmas song “I Want An Alien For Chirstmas” and also “2 Cool 4 School”, which appeared at the end of Scary Movie. their 2nd album had its moments, and since then there are some ok songs but nowhere near the quality of their debut.

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50. AT THE DRIVE-IN – RELATIONSHIP OF COMMAND
(2000 – T12 G10 B7 UB3)

As we breach the top 50 we are solidly into the upper end of the 9/10 rated albums (also only 50 days left of my incessant posting). The 50 begin with At The Drive-In and their 3rd album, and their best by far, “Relationship of Command”. This is an arty post hardcore noise-a-thon. The dual vocals shout and scream over each other desperate for attention on top of the sometimes manic and messy guitars, but somehow it works. The urgency of it all is what makes it. “Arcarsenal” blasts things into action and the first 6 tracks on this are all at least bangers. “One Armed Scissor” was the major single of the album and stop start chorus is a swing the microphone about glory.”Invalid Litter Dept.” has large spoken word sections with pianos but with its big chorus and even bigger ending, which makes the song. “Mannequin Republic” is my favourite and is just pure screaming energy. “Enfilade” has like a drum n bass beat to it in the verse and then an catchy chorus. From this point on the album drops off a bit esp with the last 2 songs, which prevents it from being higher in the list, but its a great blast for the majority of it. No idea what they are on about and on live tv shows they look a hot mess with barely recognisable songs. This album also continuously reminds me of certain levels of the computer game Deus Ex which was what I was big on playing in 2000 and remains my favourite game. 

This album featured at Number 39 in Rock Sounds best albums of the last 20 years.

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